Amazon
Facts
- HQ
- SEATTLE
- Sectors
- E-commerce, Cloud computing, Aerospace/Satellites, Media/Streaming, Advertising, Consumer devices
- Founded
- 1994
- Type
- Corporation Seattle business license
- Employees
- 1600000
- Registered name
- Amazon.Com Inc Seattle business license
- Stage
- Public
Seattle Tech Leaders Dave Cotter, Johanna Faries, and Marie Donoghue Take New Roles at D3 Advisors, Blizzard, and DraftKings
Dave Cotter, former Leafly chief product officer and ex-Amazon executive, launched advisory firm D3 Advisors to consult startups and VCs. Other Seattle tech moves include Johanna Faries becoming Blizzard Entertainment president and Marie Donoghue joining DraftKings as chief business officer.
Techstars Seattle Demo Day 2024 Unveils 24 Startups Poised to Rival 2011 Unicorn Trio Including Discoverist and TalkStack AI
The 2024 Techstars Seattle Demo Day showcased 24 startups, with experts optimistic that this cohort could rival the successful 2011 group that included three billion-dollar companies. Notable startups like Discoverist and TalkStack AI are leveraging AI for personalized retail recommendations and conversation analysis, respectively.
Seattle Startup Skip Launches Dating App That Eliminates Chatting to Streamline Date Scheduling
Seattle-based dating app Skip, founded by Scott Avy, eliminates in-app chatting and endless swiping to facilitate quicker, safer date meet-ups through automated screening and scheduling. The app requires users to answer deal-breaker questions and confirm dates to reduce ghosting.
Symbiosys, led by ex-Google exec Bashar Kachachi, raises $9M Series A to modernize retail media advertising
Symbiosys, an adtech startup led by former Google and Microsoft exec Bashar Kachachi, raised $9 million in a Series A round to enhance collaboration between retailers and brands in the $45 billion retail media market. The company offers real-time analytics and collaborative bidding technology to optimize off-site product advertising.
Can AI level the playing field? Nancy Wang of Advancing Women in Tech
This week's guest, Nancy Wang, is a technology product and engineering executive, advisor, and investor. A former Amazon Web Services general manager and former Google lead product manager, she is a venture partner at Felicis Ventures, where she invests in early-stage startups in cybersecurity, enterprise infrastructure, and business-to-business software as a service. She is also founder and board chair of Advancing Women in Tech, and a contributor to Forbes. With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Washington State Commerce Leads Six Tech Companies, Including Artly, to CES 2024 in Las Vegas
The Washington State Department of Commerce is leading a delegation of six innovative tech companies, including Seattle-based robotic barista maker Artly, to the CES 2024 event in Las Vegas from Tuesday to Thursday. The delegation emphasizes companies with global business potential and is partially funded by a U.S. Small Business Administration grant to boost international sales.
Amazon Leader and Army Vet Stephiney Foley Launches Seattle Wellness Startup Yuzi to Support New Moms Postpartum
Stephiney Foley, an Army veteran and Amazon leader, launched Seattle-based wellness startup Yuzi in September to support new parents during the challenging postpartum period. The company is currently bootstrapping and beginning fundraising efforts aimed at addressing gaps in postpartum care for families nationwide.
Seattle Startup Olamedi Raises $80K to Automate Healthcare Clinic Communications, Launching Platform in Q4 2024
Seattle startup Olamedi, co-founded by Daniel Sarfati and Noah Loudon, is developing a platform to automate healthcare clinic communications and track patient outcomes, launching in Q4 2024. The company recently raised $80,000 from angel investors and founders invested $400,000 of their own capital.
Microsoft, Google, and LevelTen Energy Form Granular Certificate Trading Alliance to Create 24/7 Clean Energy Marketplace
Microsoft, Google, LevelTen Energy, and others launched the Granular Certificate Trading Alliance, a marketplace enabling buyers to purchase 24/7 carbon-free energy verified by granular certificates. This initiative supports diverse clean energy sources beyond solar and wind to supply continuous carbon-free power.
Audiosocket Launches Subscription Service Granting Instant Access to 85,000 Licensed Songs for Digital Creators
Audiosocket, a Seattle-based music-licensing startup founded in 2009, has launched a new subscription service called Music as a Service (MaaS) Integration Plan that offers instant access to a catalog of over 85,000 licensed songs for digital creators, bypassing traditional licensing delays. The company, led by co-founder and CEO Jenn Anderson-Miller, has also expanded partnerships with major platforms like TikTok, Canva, and YouTube to increase use of its licensed music in various digital ecosystems.
AWS Community Head Emily Freeman Departs; UW Medicine Names Dr. Timothy Dellit CEO; Pfizer Exec Joins Truveta Board
Emily Freeman, head of community at AWS, is leaving after several years, coinciding with another AWS leader's departure. Meanwhile, Dr. Timothy Dellit became UW Medicine CEO, William Johnson stepped down from Vancouver Tech Journal, and Pfizer exec Dr. Patrick Caubel joined Truveta's board.
UW Professor Shwetak Patel Co-Founded Three Startups Since 2008, Leading Google Health Tech Group
Shwetak Patel, a University of Washington professor and entrepreneur, has co-founded three startups based on his inventions since arriving in Seattle in 2008, including Zensi and SNUPI, acquired by Belkin and Sears respectively. He currently leads a health tech group at Google and is recognized as an innovative thinker transforming industries.
Seattle Startup Levanta Raises $1M to Connect Amazon Sellers with Influencers, Hits $1M Annual Revenue
Seattle-based startup Levanta raised $1 million to help Amazon sellers create affiliate programs with influencers and has surpassed $1 million in annual recurring revenue. Founded in 2023 by University of Washington grads, the profitable company serves nearly 2,000 creators and 500 brands.
What's next for Microsoft and OpenAI; Amazon car sales; disappearing unicorns
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we assess the outcome of the drama at OpenAI, considering what the removal and ultimate return of its CEO Sam Altman, and everything that happened in between, means for Microsoft. While Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella earned kudos for masterfully navigating the mess, the situation also showed how the company was vulnerable to being blindsided due to OpenAI's convoluted structure. And while for-profit interests are likely to get more influence on OpenAI's reformulated board, it's not yet clear if Microsoft will end up with a seat on that board, leaving the ultimate outcome for Microsoft…
Seattle Startup Expanso Raises $7.5M Seed Round Led by General Catalyst and Hetz Ventures to Expand Edge Data Processing Software
Seattle startup Expanso raised $7.5 million in a seed round led by General Catalyst and Hetz Ventures to advance its distributed data processing software powered by open source Bacalhau. The company is led by CEO David Aronchick, a former Amazon, Microsoft, and Google veteran.
Bill Gates-backed Graphyte Develops $100-per-Ton Plant-Based Bricks for 1,000-Year Underground Carbon Storage
Graphyte, backed by Bill Gates-led Breakthrough Energy Ventures, has developed affordable plant-based bricks that can store carbon underground for up to 1,000 years at under $100 per ton, meeting the Biden administration's climate funding goals. The technology uses waste biomass compressed into stable blocks for scalable, long-term carbon storage.
Seattle Startup Wokelo Raises $1.5M Pre-Seed to Use AI for Rapid M&A Due Diligence Reports
Wokelo, a Seattle-based startup founded by two former management consultants, uses AI to generate detailed due-diligence reports in minutes, streamlining the M&A research process. Founded in 2022, it has raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding to further develop its product.
Boundless CEO Xiao Wang Uses Personal Immigration Experience to Revolutionize U.S. Green Card Process
Boundless co-founder and CEO Xiao Wang, an immigrant himself, launched the company to simplify the complex U.S. immigration process after witnessing his parents' struggles. Leveraging his tech background and extensive research, Wang aims to address systemic pain points and help families navigate immigration more efficiently.
Jeff Bezos Moves from Seattle to Miami, Raising Questions on Washington's Capital Gains Tax Impact
Jeff Bezos is moving from Seattle to Miami, marking a symbolic end of an era for the Seattle region where he influenced business and philanthropy for three decades. The move raises questions about Washington state's capital gains tax and its impact on local leadership, while Bezos remains executive chairman of Amazon.
Jeff Bezos' big move, Convoy's final stop, AI meets VC
What should we make of Jeff Bezos' decision to move his primary residence from Seattle to Miami? That's our first topic on this week's episode. Plus, Convoy's final destination; a new AI feature from Seattle startup Yoodli that helps startup founders hone their pitches; and Amazon tests Bluetooth earplugs for warehouse workers. Related stories and links ‘Seattle, you will always have a piece of my heart’: Jeff Bezos leaving Amazon’s hometown for Miami Jeff Bezos’ move out of Washington state sparks questions about wealth taxes Swimming from Seattle? Jeff Bezos’ big move brings us full circle from the mid-1990s Flexport…
Flexport Acquires Convoy’s Technology and CEO Dan Lewis After Convoy’s Sudden Shutdown
Freight company Flexport acquired Convoy's technology and some employees, including CEO Dan Lewis, after Convoy abruptly shut down, citing a modest purchase price. Convoy, once valued at $3.8 billion, collapsed due to market challenges and exhausted strategic options despite significant funding.
Yifan Zhang Joins AI2 Incubator as Managing Director; Dropbox, Marchex, and Seattle Startups Appoint New Tech Leaders
Yifan Zhang, former Loftium co-founder, is joining the AI2 Incubator as managing director starting February 2024, while several Seattle tech companies made key executive hires including Dropbox, Marchex, Simply Augmented, and Chainguard.
Seattle Startup PerfectRec Uses AI and Expert Reviews to Simplify Electronics Shopping
PerfectRec, founded by Joe Golden, is a Seattle-based AI-driven product recommendation startup launched in early 2024 that helps users find electronics by combining expert reviews and data science to simplify online shopping decisions. The company employs freelance product experts and around 10 full-time employees, aiming to become the primary starting point for online shopping in a market worth hundreds of billions.
Five Seattle-Area Companies Featured in Time Magazine’s 200 Best Inventions of 2023 for Innovative Tech Solutions
Time Magazine's 2023 list of the 200 Best Inventions features five Seattle-area companies innovating in AI, fitness, smart home technology, health software, and green hardware. Notable entries include Alitheon's object-identifying technology and Amazon's Echo Hub smart home device.
What the heck happened at Convoy?
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we examine the market forces, debt, and other dynamics that put the digital freight marketplace Convoy out of business, bringing one of the Seattle region's top startups to the end of the road. Related coverage: ‘The markets crushed us’: In tearful farewell to employees, Convoy execs reflect on shutdown Convoy collapse: Read CEO’s memo detailing sudden shutdown of Seattle trucking startup Convoy raised $260 million just 18 months ago, at a valuation of $3.8 billion. Its investor list was a who's who of tech moguls and celebrities, including Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Marc Benioff…
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Jamie Siminoff Executive, Vice President
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Steve Rabuchin Executive, Vice President of Project Kuiper (Amazon Leo)
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Ben Wild Co-founder of Hubble Network, Former Amazon Product Lead
